Chinese shooter Sheng Lihao delivered a stellar performance at the ISSF World Cup in Ningbo, earning silver in the men's 10-meter air rifle event on Thursday. The 22-year-old Italian Danilo Sollazzo clinched gold with a world-record score of 255, surpassing Sheng's previous benchmark set in 2023.
Sheng, a reigning Olympic champion, dominated qualifying with 637.1 points but faced fierce competition in the final. Sollazzo's near-flawless execution—scoring below 10.5 points only twice—secured his first international title this season. Sheng's 253.5 points earned him his second medal in Ningbo after a mixed team silver earlier this week.
South Korea's Park Ha-jun claimed bronze with 231.9 points, highlighting Asia's growing dominance in precision sports. Meanwhile, the women's 25-meter pistol final saw a thrilling China-South Korea rivalry. Reigning Olympic champion Yang Ji-in of South Korea triumphed with 39 hits, while China's Xiao Jiaruixuan secured bronze in her senior World Cup debut.
The event underscores Asia's rising influence in competitive shooting, with athletes from the Chinese mainland and the Republic of Korea claiming five of six individual medals. As athletes prepare for Paris 2024, performances like Sheng's and Yang's signal intense regional competition ahead.
